ARENAC COUNTY — Rain pounding Arenac County starting April 17, coupled with the precipitation from an ice storm only days before, has caused flooding throughout parts of Arenac County, culminating in high water levels on the Rifle River.

“It may be coming close to record levels here,” National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Schwartz said. “One of our gauges is in the Rifle near Sterling, and it measured 8.28 feet as of 2 p.m. (April 18). The forecast puts it at 12.9 feet with it cresting Friday afternoon.”

As of Friday afternoon, the river was on track to crest at 11 feet, nearly two feet below the feared high point.

Schwartz said each of the NWS' three flood stages is based on the impact on the surrounding area; from six feet to 11 feet measured from the center of the river, it falls into a standard flood stage and impacts the River View Campground canoe livery.

At nine feet, it reaches a moderate flood stage and begins to impact the White’s Canoe Livery property, while above 11 feet the river begins impacting personal property.

“It may or may not flood people’s homes, but it does begin to affect personal property south of Townline Road,” Schwartz said, adding that continues downstream to the Melita Road bridge. “You start to see impact on properties like, say, backyards, or adjacent river property.”

The record flood height on NWS record occurred on March 28, 1950, when the Rifle River reached 13.7 feet. While this flood stage is not expected to surpass that, the river is on track to reach the second highest crest on record.

While the Rifle is the official forecast point in Arenac County, he said the NWS has also reported 0.86 inches of rain as of 8 a.m. on April 18 approximately three miles southeast of Omer, and about 3/10ths of an inch six miles north of Au Gres as of 7 a.m. the same day. Another inch to two inches of rain could hit Arenac County between April 18-19.

Schwartz said the flood forecasting is done through a number of computer programs located in Minneapolis that factor in rainfall and the views of local weather stations, such as his in Gaylord.

“People should definitely have a heightened awareness for the next 24-36 hours or so,” Schwartz said. “We have a flood warning out there right now, and any statements we have about the flood warning, people should be heeding.”

Winds also knocked power out for residents in the Omer and Twining area Friday afternoon, but power was restored at about 1:30 p.m.